Combined clasp and lighting implement



Oct. 10', 1950 H. F. CHAMBERS COMBINED CLASP AND LIGHTING IMPLEMENT Filed May 24, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 10, 1950 OFFICE COMBINEDHCLASP AND LIGHTING IMPLEMENT- 7 Harvey Frederick Chambers, Amherst, Ohio Application May 24, 1948, Serial No. 28,911

My invention relates in general to a lighting implement and in particular to a flashlight which is attachable to a band cap.

Members of bands who have marched at night have found it very difficult to read their music with the aid of flashlights or other lighting devices which have previously been designed. Therefore one of the objects of my invention is to provide a lighting implement which may be easily attached to the band cap.

Another object of my invention is to provide a battery and bulb holder in which the bulb may be screwed into contact with the battery, and which is clipped onto the visor of the hat.

Another object of .my invention is to provide a lighting implement with a clamp to receive the battery and a coil spring to receive the flashlight bulb and align the bulb in operative relationship with the battery.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lighting implement with a threaded bulb holder which has a spring tension to hold a bulb in any position.

Other objects, and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following descriptions and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the use of my lighting implement;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of my'lighting implement; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my lighting implement with'the battery and bulb partly re-- moved to show the construction thereof.

My lighting implement IE! which is shown in Figure 1 clasped on the visor ll of a hat and pointed toward the music l2 of an instrument I3 is best illustrated in the enlarged view in Figures 2 and 3. This lighting implement l generally comprises a base member I l supporting a battery i5 and a flashlight bulb |6-. I have found it preferable to use batteries of the penlight type; however, it is understood that any suitable battery maybe used and that the corresponding bulb may be used without departin from the spirit and scope of this invention. The battery l5 has a center terminal II forming one of the contacts and has an outer electrical conducting wall |8 forming the other contact of the battery. The center terminal engages the light bulb I6. 7

The base member M generally comprises an elongated base portion l9 having clasp portion folded back thereupon. In the construction of this base member M the clasp portion 20 and the elongated base portion l9 may be construct- ,2 Claims. (01. 240-105) ed of a single piece of material which has springlike properties so that the implement will be clasped onto the visor II with the visor extending between the elongated base portion l9 and the clasp portion 20. I have also provided the elongated base portion IS? with a clamp 2| securelyifastened thereto. This clamp 2| clampingly receives the :battery, It andholds the bat-,

tery in longitudinal alignment with the elongated base portion l9. The clamp 2| engages the electrical conducting wall l8 of the battery to form electrical contact between the base portion l9 and the battery. When penlight batteries having cardboard thereon are used, at least part of the cardboard or paper must be removed before the battery is slipped into the clamp 2|.

I have used a coil spring 22 carried by this base portion I!) to threadably receive the bulb. In the construction of the lighting implement illustrated, this coil spring has a fastening portion 23 which extends. along the base portion l9 and is soldered to the clamp 2| and the base portion IS. The individual coils of the coil spring 22 spread apart to receive the teeth 24 of the bulb l6 therein. Thus the bulb I6 is tightly held by the coil spring 22 when it is only partly turned therein.

When my lighting implement I0 is completely assembled, the bulb, the coil spring and the battery are in axial alignment so that the bulb may be turned into the coil spring 22 and against the center terminal H of the battery l5. When the musician wishes to turn off his light, he sim-- ply unscrews the bulb until electrical contact between the bulb and the battery is broken. The coil spring 22 engages the teeth 24 of the bulb Hi to prevent it from falling out of the implement.

I have also provided the elongated base portion IS with a curved end portion 25 over which the battery is slipped when the battery is inserted in the clamp 2|. This curved end portion 25 prevents the battery |5 moving endwise out of the clamp 2| and away from the bulb l6.

When the musician desires to use the light on his cap at night, either for reading his music or for a candlelight or firefly ceremony, he simply slides the lighting implement l0 onto the visor of his cap. The visor easily slides between the clasp portion 20 and the'base portion IS. The bulb I6 is then screwed further intothe coil spring 22 and against the battery l5, thus completing the electrical circuit from the battery through the bulb, the coil spring, and the clamp, and back to the battery.

gated base portion having a clasp portion at oneend thereof folded back thereupon and resiliently convergent therewith to claspingly receive a supporting article ,therebetween, battery holding clamp means, joined to said elongatedbase portion to clampingly receive a battery and form electrical connection between the elongated base portion and the battery, and a bulb retaining coil spring carried by said base portion in alignment with said battery holding clamp means to retain a bulb in direct contact with said battery and in series electrical connection with said base portion.

7 2. A lighting implement adapted'to clasp onto a-supporting article and hold a battery and a bulb in closed electricalcircuit, said lighting implement comprising, a base member of current conducting spring-like material defining an elongated base portion having a clasp portion at one end thereof folded back thereupon and resiliently convergent therewith to claspingly receive a supporting article therebetween, battery holding clamp means, joined to said elongated base portion to clampingly receive a battery and form electrical connection between the elongated base portion and the battery, and a bulb retaining coil spring carried by said base portion at the said one end thereof joining the clasp portion and in alignment with said battery holding clamp means to retain a bulb in direct contact with said battery and in series electrical connection with said base portion.

HARVEY FREDERICK CHAMBERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Roskam et al Mar. 25, 1941 

